On November 22, 2021 Qurient Co. Ltd. (KRX: 115180), a clinical-stage biotech company based in Korea, reported that the company has entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with MSD, a tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ., USA,, for clinical study of Q702, a triple inhibitor of Axl/Mer/CSF1R) in combination with MSD’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) (Press release, Qurient Therapeutics, NOV 22, 2021, View Source [SID1234595931]).
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Under this agreement, Qurient will conduct a phase 1b/2 study in the U.S. and Korea to evaluate safety and efficacy of Q702 and KEYTRUDA in combination for the treatment of selected advanced solid tumors, including esophageal, gastric, hepatocellular, and cervical cancers.
Kiyean Nam, Ph.D., CEO of Qurient, said, "We are pleased to collaborate with MSD to evaluate Q702 in combination with KEYTRUDA for the treatment of esophageal, gastric, hepatocellular, and cervical cancers, where limited immuno-oncology treatment options are currently available. We have previously shown the potential additive benefit of Q702 in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy in preclinical models, so this combination study is designed to evaluate clinical benefit of Q702 and KEYTRUDA for patients."
Terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.
KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
About Q702
Q702 is an orally available novel Axl/Mer/CSF1R inhibitor and is designed to modulate innate immune components leading to T cell activation. Q702 was also shown to increase antigen presentation in the tumor cells demonstrating dual mode of action. A phase 1/2 clinical trial is currently underway in the U.S. (Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT04648254) to evaluate safety and efficacy of Q702 as a monotherapy treatment for solid cancers.